bove the diner door clange

tioning hit Harper's face, r

gressively of stale bacon

down the narrow aisle,

d, cherry-red vinyl bo

id in opp

o she had a clear, unobstructed view

ticky, laminated menus onto the ta

per's bag began to vibrate wit

lled i

her ultimate rival in the New Y

ressing a strong urge to thro

asked, talking arou

site in Manhattan

n button and brought

, artificially sweet voic

phone an inch aw

ptons," Sloane bragged loudly. "

glass of ice water,

ating,

ught me a glass of champagne,"

ache splintered be

around the glass unt

p, thick with sudde

erself to ta

reathy laugh that soun

e a soft spot for chari

dead silent

the fake sweetness was

one says you got dumped by St

her's social circle was

st the sticky vinyl s

top of her menu, scanni

had completely taken

n wall around the

in the deepest shadow, his

er attention ba

shut Sloane up

ce into a low, cons